Cons

Location in the Financial District is removed from a lot of Manhattan's action

Not all rooms have attractive views

No coffeemakers in rooms (the hotel can bring you one for free upon request)

Bottom Line

When it opened in 2010, this W hotel brought the suit-focused Financial District with a dose of cool. It's a sleek hotel, and its biggest assets are its stylish lobby lounge (with huge wrap-around terrace) and its proximity to Ground Zero (which means perfect views of the Freedom Tower). Other features include a nice fitness center (with great views), a small business center, meeting rooms, and a restaurant by the well-regarded BLT chain. Many tourists would prefer to be in a hipper, quainter, or more central neighborhood, but the hotel is close to Wall Street, Trinity Church, Battery Park, the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, and of course the 9/11 Memorial. Travelers who like the idea of a hip hotel in the Financial District can also consider Gild Hall, about a 10-minute walk to the east.

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Oyster Hotel Review

This hotel overlooks Ground Zero and is right next to the entrance for the 9/11 Memorial in the heart of the Financial Distrct.

For some, the proximity to the Financial District's businesses and tourist attractions, plus the proximity to the Hudson River promenade, make this hotel's location an appealing alternative to the bustle of midtown. For others, the throngs of tourists at the 9/11 Memorial and the distance from other popular areas (Times Square, the West Village, Central Park -- to name just a few) make this neighborhood less than ideal.

The Financial District is not the place to look for bustling nightlife. There are a handful of well-known upscale restaurants, including Delmonico's and Cipriani's on Wall Street, and luckily the restaurant-, bar-, and shop-filled TriBeCa is a short walk north.

The area is quiet and fairly empty at night, but generally safe.

Transportation from the hotel is easy: The N, R, and 1 subway lines are less than four blocks away, and the J and E lines are just a bit further.